Scavangers have stolen from boat stranded on Saanich beach

It is not clear when a sailboat stranded in Saanich a week ago will get off a local beach.

Eric Dahli of the Dead Boat Society and Cadboro Bay Residents Association said the owner of the boat is trying to secure a tug boat to pull his 37-foot-long ketch off Cadboro Bay beach.

Heavy winds pushed the boat onto the beach on Dec. 20, where it has remained since. Two boats belonging to C-Tow, a local salvage company, attempted but failed to pull the boat into the water because of its weight.

“It’s a cement boat,” said Dahli in reference to its ferro-cement frame consisting out of sand and cement plaster covering steel wires. “It’s a very inexpensive way [of building boats],” he said.

The two C-Tow boats — each equipped with 300 horse-powers — managed to turn the boat’s bow towards the ocean to prevent further damage to the boat from incoming waves.

But the boat has also suffered damage by human hands as unknown individuals have raided it. Dahli said the individuals stole solar panels and other items. “These are just people who are taking advantage of other people’s misfortunes,” he said.